Citation Numbers: 81 Op. Att'y Gen. 20
Judges: J. JOSEPH CURRAN, JR.
Filed Date: 9/19/1996
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
Dear Mr. Rolle:
You have requested our opinion concerning the authority of deputy fire marshals to initiate criminal charges for petty offenses that come under their jurisdiction. Specifically, you have asked whether a deputy fire marshal would be considered a "peace officer" and, therefore, authorized to sign a citation to initiate criminal charges.
Our opinion is that a deputy fire marshal is not a "peace officer" and, therefore, is not authorized to sign a citation to initiate criminal charges.
Under current procedures, a deputy fire marshal must go to a District Court Commissioner's office and fill out an Application for Statement of Charges for each petty offense that comes under his or her jurisdiction.1 This requirement is itself time-consuming, and, as you observe in your letter, after the statement of charges is filed the deputy fire marshal must "relocate the offender to arrest or serve them."2 You ask whether a deputy fire marshal may instead initiate charges by issuing a citation.
In Maryland, an offense may be tried only on a "charging document." Rule 4-201(a). A "charging document" is "a written accusation alleging that a defendant has committed an offense. It includes a citation, an indictment, an information, and a statement of charges." Rule 4-102(a). A "citation" is "a charging document, other than an indictment, information, or statement of charges, issued to a defendant by a peace officer or other person authorized by law to do so." Rule 4-202(b). A citation "shall be signed by a person authorized by law to do so before it is issued."
No provision of law authorizes a deputy fire marshal to issue a citation. Therefore, a deputy fire marshal may issue a citation only if the deputy fire marshal is a "peace officer."
The office of the State Fire Marshal is a part of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Article
The duties of a fire marshal are to "enforce all laws of the State" having to do with the following: the prevention of fire; the storage, sale, and use of any explosive, combustible, or other dangerous article; installation and maintenance of fire-related equipment; the "means and adequacy of exit, in case of fire," from buildings; and the "suppression of arson." Article
In considering whether a special policeman was a "peace officer" and therefore authorized by court rule to sign a charging document, the Court of Appeals noted that the pertinent rule, then as now, did not define the term "peace officer." Huger v. State,
In 63 Opinions of the Attorney General 502 (1978), this office was asked whether Parole and Probation Agents were "peace officers." Concluding that these agents were not "peace officers," Attorney General Burch noted the agents' limited law enforcement authority:
The only law enforcement authority of members of the Division of Parole and Probation . . . allows any Parole Agent . . . to execute warrants for the retaking of parole violators. The limited authority to retake parole violators upon warrants does not constitute employees of the Division of Parole and Probation as peace or law enforcement officers. Members of the Division of Parole and Probation have no statutory authority to enforce and preserve the public peace, detect and prevent the commission of a crime or to enforce the criminal laws and ordinances of this State, nor to apprehend and arrest criminals. Members of the Division of Parole and Probation are therefore not peace officers.
63 Opinions of the Attorney General at 504.
Although fire marshals have the authority to enforce the law, detect and prevent the commission of certain crime, and apprehend and arrest criminals, this authority is limited to one specific area: offenses related to fire and explosives. A fire marshal does not have broad enforcement powers concerning criminal laws generally. For this reason, Attorney General Burch concluded that county fire marshals, deputy fire marshals, and fire investigators were not part of a "law enforcement" unit for purposes of the Police Training Commission statute. 61 Opinions of the AttorneyGeneral 668, 683 (1976).
The limited scope of a fire marshal's enforcement powers contrasts markedly with the powers of those who have been held to be "peace officers." Concluding that a special policeman is a "peace officer," the Court of Appeals observed: "`[A special policeman's] jurisdiction . . . [is] quite broad, and [is] not limited only to those offenses of some particular interest . . . .'"Huger,
In summary, it is our opinion that a deputy fire marshal is not considered a "peace officer" and, therefore, is not authorized to sign a citation to initiate criminal charges.
Very truly yours,
J. Joseph Curran, Jr. Attorney General
Kimberly Smith Ward Assistant Attorney General
_________________________ Jack Schwartz Chief Counsel Opinions Advice
*Page 23
Service Employees International Union Local 715 v. City of ... , 38 Cal. Rptr. 2d 86 ( 1995 )
Vandiver v. Endicott , 215 Ga. 250 ( 1959 )
Huger v. State , 285 Md. 347 ( 1979 )
Leach v. Penn-Mar Merchants Ass'n , 18 Md. App. 603 ( 1973 )